BEAUMONT, Texas – After playing its last four Southland Conference games on the road, the Lamar University Cardinals finally return home for two beginning with UIW Saturday. The Cardinals currently sit in the middle of the pack of the Southland standings with a 7-8 (.467) overall record and a 2-4 (.333) mark in Southland Conference games.
 
The good news for Lamar University is that it's still very early in the conference season and the league is jam packed. If the Cardinals take care of business on the current two-game mini homestand they could potentially climb three spots in the standings if everything breaks there way.
 
One of the teams that currently sits ahead of Lamar in the standings is Saturday's opponent, UIW. The leagues other Cardinals are a game up on Lamar at 8-7 (.533) overall and 3-3 (.500) in the league. It has been an up-and-down season for San Antonio's Cardinals. After a stretch that saw UIW win three of four, they hit the road for three falling just short in each game but returned home to sweep a three-game homestand. UIW comes to Beaumont looking to bounce back from a 13-point setback at UT Rio Grande Valley Monday.
 
Saturday's game is slated to tip off at 6 p.m. from the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 and streamed live on ESPN+.
 
The Cardinals will then turn right back around Monday to host Houston Christian at 6 p.m. The Huskies (5-10/1-5 SLC) are looking to right the ship after a strong start. After opening the year 4-2, HCU – who plays at Stephen F. Austin Saturday – has dropped six straight and eight of its last nine.
 
The weekend contests are also very key for HCU as the Huskies are looking to climb out of the cellar. The Huskies are currently tied with East Texas A&M for 11^th in the league. Monday's contest will also tip off at 6 p.m. from Neches Arena and will be broadcast on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.
   
LU vs. the Cardinals
Lamar owns a 13-8 (.619) all-time series advantage over the Southland's other Cardinals in a series that dates back to the 2007-08 season. The two schools have split the season series each of the past two seasons with each team winning on its home floor. The Cardinals are 8-3 (.727) all-time against UIW in Beaumont.
 
Defending the Nest
Lamar University has made Neches Arena one of the toughest venues for opponents to play over the course of its 40-plus year history. The Cardinals are 383-195 (.663) all-time in Neches Arena. Lamar recorded a program-best 15 home wins in the 1987-88 season. The Cardinals are 3-3 (.500) at home this season.
 
All Hail the King
Transfer King-Njhsanni Wilhite has taken his game to another level, offensively, over the course of the past two weeks. During that time he has struck for double-digits three times in four games. He is averaging 10.8 points per game during that stretch.
 
Windex Award
Sophomore Braden East pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds at Southeastern Louisiana. It marks the fourth time in the last five games that the Houston native has hit double digits on the glass. He currently leads the Southland Conference averaging 8.5 rebounds per contest. He is also one of the league's top double-double men this season with five.
 
Attacking the Glass
Lamar again dominated an opponent on the glass outrebounding Southeastern Louisiana, 40-30. The Cardinals also held a 16-8 margin over SLU in offensive rebounds. The Cardinals are currently fourth in the league in offensive rebounds by a mere half rebound per game.
 
Defense Doesn't Rest
Similar to Braden East, a couple other Cardinals are challenging for league-leading honors in other defensive categories. Senior Andrew Holifield has 30 blocks on the season and ranks second in the league (2.0 bpg), while classmate Cody Pennebaker has recorded 24 steals and is tied for fifth in the Southland averaging 1.6 steals per game.
 
Building on the Past
Head coach Alvin Brooks has a direct link to Lamar's successful history. One in a long line of LU standout point guards, Brooks guided the Cards to a 47-16 (.746) overall record, two conference titles, the NCAA Sweet 16, a 3-2 NCAA tournament record and graduated as the school's all-time leader in assists. He is a member of the Cardinals Hall of Honor.
 
The Cardinal Rule
Lamar has been one of the SLC's more dominant teams. LU has won 53 percent of league games and has more NCAA tournament appearances than any of the current SLC schools (6), and their five NIT berths are also tops in the league. LU has had 85 players earn All-SLC honors, including 32 first-team selections. Six players have been named league newcomer of the year, five SLC tournament MVPs, four SLC Players of the Year, three SLC All-Defensive selections, two freshmen and a defensive player of the year.